Lysistrata Post #10: Final Thoughts

Im sad we are done and moving on from Lysistrata. :'( [Tearz pouring from my face LOL!!!] But it was a great reading from the humor (puns especially) to the symbolism present. I think "Lysistrata" destroyed "Hedda Gabler" and "The House of Bernarda Alba." The humor played a major role but overall it did a much better job of grabbing and keeping my attention. I also felt it allowed the men to play a bigger role than the other two plays, more so than Bernarda and her story. One thing I believe it lack in was length. I wish it was longer so that I could still be laughing at the puns and the actions between the men and women. More or less, change can be good and its time to move on to a new piece. Question is, can it top "Lysistrata?"

Lysistrata Post #9: The Boycott Was Awesome!!!

This play was not only hilarious but remarkable because of the fact Kathryn Blume was able to illustrate her purpose and do it by herself. I doubted that she could perform a one woman play without too much confusion but she delivered a wonderful play. It didnt follow the plot of Lysistrata exactly but I understood that certain characters or scenes were similar to those in the "Lysistrata" play. (Lysistraten = Lysistrata; Jack = Kineasis; ect.) What made the play more enjoyable was the fact a lot of friends from school was there. Michael Guardalabene especially made it funny with his over response to the acting (at appropriate times of course.) Overall, I loved it and would definitely go see it again and recommend it to my friends.

Lysistrata Post #8: Lysistrata vs. Everyone Other Female

Finally, we have a winner!!!!!!!! A woman who was successful in achieving her goal. No doubt she stands above Adela, Hedda Gabler, and just about every other woman we look at in the past plays. Lysistrata was able to portray masculine and feminine qualities. She was the base and strength to the other women and held her ground as a confident "general." What was really surprising was how the women in Lysistrata scared and manipulated the men using household items. The other women in previous plays used masculine tools; i.e. the pistols and Bernarda's cane. Two last things I found pleasing, the women did not commit suicide. The stood their ground and defend their beliefs through the ups and the downs. Lastly, the women in Lysistrata also demonstrated a strong bond between "sisters." Its sad how they demonstrated a deeper connection than the blood sisters in "The House of Bernarda Alba." They tore each other down instead of building each other up to over come and conquer their mother.

Lysistrata Post #7: What Do The Men Really Love?

Again we know that the men believe that the "hell" with women is not as bad as the "hell" without them. (Can never forget the fact they caved in one day, weak minded fools.) However, the a very important question presents itself, "Do the men really love the women, or just the pleasure they provide?" I completely believe they only loved the women because of the sex they provided. In the beginning we already saw that the men viewed the women as objects or property. The men also overlooked every other aspect the women were responsible. They were not enthusiastic at all that their house would be untended to and their children neglected. Kinesais was very dehumanizing to his child when he said please take "it" (referring to his kid) to the house. Another play should be made to illustrate how the women would fight back to gain their respect and not just to end a war.

Lysistrata Post #6: Life With Women Is Hell, Life Without Them Is Hell Too

The men in Lysistrata would agree with this statement to a certain extent. I pretty sure (but could be absolutely wrong) that they thought women were a pain in the rear end. They more than certainly thought women were inferior and were only responsible for tending to the house, the kids, and their very own needs. But that flies out of the door when the most important thing the women provide is at risk. When sex was held hostage, the men tried to fight their way through and end the sex strike. However, that was unsuccessful and they caved in only in 24 hrs. This sad fact, shows that the men would rather live with women, than without them.

Lysistrata Post #5: T-Pain Connects to Lysistrata

Man right after reading this scene, I thought of one of T-Pain singles on his new album, Chopped & Skrewed. The second verse in my opinion illustrates this scene perfectly, how the female was kissing on him and leading him on. Then out of nowhere like Myrrhine, she flips the script and busts out with a deal of her own. Well, here are some of the lyrics:

[Verse 1: T-Pain]
Have you ever seen
A dime piece all alone at the bar (bar-bar)
Straight out of a magazine
And you just want to let her know who you are (are-are)
So you say let me buy you a drink
Or a little conversation
If that's what you want to do (do-do)
And she said love is about to end
And you said y dont u come to my crib
And She said I can't leave my friends

[Chorus 1:]
Now you've offically been chopped and screwed
Screwed-Screwed
Chopped-Chopped
And Screwed
You've offically been
dance-dance
Screwed
And Ewed-Ewed
Chopped
Screwed-Screwed
You've offically been chopped and screwed
And-And
Screw
Chop-Screw-Screwed
You've offically been Screwed
Screwed
Screw-Screw
Chop-Chop
And Screwed
You've officially been
Dance-Dance
Screwed

[Verse 2: T-Pain]
Have you ever been in the VIP room
Of your favorite street club (club-club)
And you got a shawty on you
Kissing on your neck
Making you feel like she so in love (love-love)
Now you done grabbed you a couple a drinks
And you feeling like it's about time to cuddle up (up-up)
And you said shawty what's really up
And she takes big sip out yo cup
And she said it'll be 60 bucks

Lysistrata Post #4: Myrrhine & Kinesias

WOW!!!!!!! This scene was priceless!!!! The women really played a number on him. Lysistrata warmed him up by saying how much his wife missed him and how much she loved him. Lysistrata described it to the point where Myrrhine could not do anything without mentioning Kinesias. Then she comes in for the kill. She offered to have sex with him and he was ready to go right there on the spot. LOL, but she drives him crazy with all the things she brings. LOL, one of my favorite quotes from this scene was "I was up before I was up.." Anyways, this part shows that the women in the play are fully capable of stepping outside their traditional roles. No one thought they could be excellent strategists in this "war of the sexes."

Lysistrata Post #3: Language of the Spartans??

Why was the Spartans speaking the way they were? I found it kinda difficult to fully understand what they were saying and I thought it misrepresented to a certain extent. If I recall correctly, then the Spartans were not considered as intelligent as the Athenians. They were very barbaric but very good military strategists. Everything else about the Spartans was sub-par. However, they were not stupid. Also, in my opinion, this brings the idea that everyone from the south speaks this way and is somewhat less-intelligent. Idk if this is just me noticing this but it kinda bothered me.

Lysistrata Post #2: Spectacle, The Importance of Props

LMAO, this play was hilarious from the beginning to the end. Every scene had some kind of humor to it with the reactions of the men and women or just from the numerous puns. Two of the scenes that I found extremely funny was between the Koryphaios of Men and Women, Lysistrata and the Commissioner, and between Myrrhine and Kinesias (especially the last scene mentioned!) But in these humorous parts, there is a common ground they share, the importance of the props. The props include bowles of water, torches, and in general household items. I saw the fire representing the men's sexual desire, hot and out of control. The water is for the women's calmness and ability to overcome their desire while "extinguishing" men's desires. The household items the women used when confronted by the Commissioner and the archers i imagine being spindles, brooms, knives, forks, anything they could use to defend themselves. LOL, Myrrhine showed the true power and control the women had. She used bedroom items to intensify the sexual fustration in her husband, and then left him for dead. Overall, im trying to say, the person makes the tools, not the other way around. The women demonstrated this perfectly using unusual, strange, and unexpected "weapons."

Lysistrata Post #1: Who Will Give In First??

Man, this play was OC in the very beginning!!! Sex is such a important factor in the Greek culture!! Nonetheless, it is very interesting and almost kinda fun to guess who will give in first. The men treat their wives like objects or even pets. They allow them to do very small and unimportant tasks in and outside of the household. But when it comes to sex, they have these uncontrollable urges. Almost to the point where they use the women, take what they want, dump them to the side. The women in "Lysistrata" are almost as guilty to this crime. When Lysistrata first introduces the theory of abstinence, the other ladies go crazy, saying they would give anything except sex to end the war. Its kinda hard to even guess who will give in first because both genders are almost addicted to sex.